Critical Linguistics:
* Michael Halliday: He developed systemic functional grammar, emphasizing how language is used to create meaning and social relationships. His work informed the field of critical linguistics.
* Norman Fairclough: A prominent figure in critical discourse analysis (CDA), Fairclough examines how language is used to maintain and reproduce power relations. He focuses on analyzing texts (spoken or written) within their social contexts.
* Ruth Wodak: Another key figure in CDA, Wodak investigates how discourse constructs social identities and shapes power relations. She is known for her work on racism, sexism, and political discourse.
* Teun A. van Dijk: A leading scholar in discourse analysis, van Dijk examines the cognitive processes involved in producing and understanding discourse, emphasizing how power affects these processes.
Postcolonial Studies:
* Edward Said: His seminal work "Orientalism" explores how Western discourse constructs the "Orient" as a subjugated and inferior other, solidifying colonial power relations.
* Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak: Spivak focuses on subaltern voices and the ways in which language and representation perpetuate colonial power structures.
* Homi K. Bhabha: Bhabha explored the complexities of cultural identity and hybridity, examining how colonial power is negotiated and contested through language.
Feminist Linguistics:
* Deborah Cameron: Cameron critiques traditional gender roles and the ways in which language reinforces those roles. She is known for her work on the "gendered nature of language."
* Robin Lakoff: Lakoff's work explores the "women's language" stereotype and how it reinforces gender inequality. She argues that women's language is often perceived as weaker and less authoritative.
* Dale Spender: Spender argues that language is a tool of patriarchal power, used to subordinate women and silence their voices.
Other Important Figures:
* Noam Chomsky: Though not explicitly a "power theorist," Chomsky's work on Universal Grammar and his criticism of propaganda and political manipulation have influenced many in the field.
* Michel Foucault: Foucault's analysis of power and discourse, particularly his concept of "discourse regimes," has had a significant impact on critical linguistics and postcolonial studies.
It's important to remember that this is just a selection, and many other scholars contribute to the understanding of language and power. The study of language and power is a complex and evolving field with diverse perspectives and methodologies.